> Best Bet
Hurricanes (+120) over Islanders
> Next Best Bet
Avalanche (+105) over Sharks
> The Skinny
Day 2 of Round 2 has two more exceptional matchups. The Hurricanes will head to Brooklyn -- not to Long Island -- where they will face off against the Islanders. We like the Canes for the simple reason that this game is not being played at the Coliseum. There is a different energy at Barclays Center, there will certainly be less of the diehard fans from the Island and more people who show up because it’s a fun way to spend a Friday night. Against the Penguins, the Isles thrived on that Coliseum crowd and without that, it’s almost like they will be stripped of their power. Plus, New York has had a long break since their last game and the Canes are still in the grinding playoff mindset after taking down the defending Stanley Cup Champs just two days ago . . . Next we head to the West Coast where F Nathan MacKinnon will continue to impress the hockey world and solidify himself as a Top 3 player in the game. He was electrifying all season but has turned it up to a new level come the postseason. He and the Avalanche embarrassed the Calgary Flames and will look to do the same at the Shark Tank against a San Jose team that just underwent a grueling series with Vegas. We like the odds that Colorado’s top line picks apart the Sharks netminder in the opener.